Saturday, February 2, 2008

We, as a Nation, Need to Rethink Our Time Off Policies

A Japanese firm, staffed by women, offers "heartache leave" for those who have recently broken up:

Staff aged 24 years or younger can take one day off per year, while those between 25 and 29 can take two days off and those older can take three days off, the company said.

"Women in their 20s can find their next love quickly, but it's tougher for women in their 30s, and their break-ups tend to be more serious," Hiradate said.

Ain't it just? Coming to terms with the strong possibility that, given how long your are in the tooth, you may never ever find love again adds at least another day or two to the cry fest.

The company also offers "sales shopping leave." You need a half day for that? I must be efficient, because I can hunt down damn near anything on a lunch hour. Huh.

2 comments:

Toby said...

Well, this is the same country that calls unmarried woman over the age of 25 "Christmas Cake" (i.e., something that is useless after the 25th). You're lucky they're giving them three days off and not setting them adrift in a skiff.

Laura said...

I thought of that when I was reading this. Heh.

In Chicago, they round us up and load us onto ice floes on the lake. Wisconsin's kind of peeved about it.